Sidesaddle putting

I thought this site, http://www.puttmagic.com, has some interesting ideas. Has anyone here experimented with the sidesaddle putting method?

I use it occasionally for short putts (read: under 2 feet). It hasn't failed me yet.

I've tried it from long range, but wasn't able to dial in distance control.

I tried it as I am a pretty bad putter and putted my worst. After this I had a lesson with my coach on putting and he gave me a good stroking method and showed me how to judge the speed and break. I am dropping my putting strokes now.

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Mr. Change, we all know you can't make a comment like that, and not share. What was the method? (For us tinkerers out there)

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I just thought I'd mention that I've been experimenting with this sidesaddle putting method, and find that it works pretty well for me. I'm under 40 putts per round (yes, 18 holes, wiseguys!), my last two times out, and that's an improvement. I borrowed a long putter for this, and I'm going to get one of my own soon.

In my case, the problem with conventional putting is not the yips; it's perceptual. I can read the "line" on a putt, and pick an intermediate mark on the green, but when I get into setup position, that mark invariably looks like it's offline to the left, and it's difficult for me to aim toward it. Despite myself, I want to aim a bit to the right, and as a result I miss the hole to the right 90% of the time. In fact, I have this same problem with alignment generally, not just putting, but that's another story.

Anyway, about a month ago, I tried one-handed putting for a couple of rounds. I discovered that my long "approach" putts were generally much better than when I'd putt conventionally, but my putts from 3 to 6 feet were worse. My theory is that on the long putts I was actually getting truer aim on the ball, but my control with one hand wasn't good enough for the actual roll-ins.

My friend has a long putter, so I started borrowing it, and I found that I could combine the better aim of the one-handed stroke with the better control of having two hands on the club. So I think I'm going to go with this. My regular putting is bad enough that I have nothing to lose.

My friend tried it and found it was pretty good, but I think he felt silly, so he went back to the regular way.

To me, the sidesaddle putting stroke, in which the arm just swings back and forward, as when you walk, feels much more natural than the straight-arm pendulum "rocking" that is the mainstay of conventional putting. But we'll see how it goes, and I'll post my progress, if any.

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Todd
Philadelphia, PA
USA

The reason the pro tells you to keep your head down is so you can't see him laughing. ~Phyllis Diller

I've never tried it ,but I putt with my feet "very open" to the hole (think the same as a bunker shot) and my putting is now red hot.

I think it's because I can now look at the target better without turning my head too much so I see the line easier.

Whatever it is ,it has taken a shot or two off my game.

If you want to try it ,stand over your putt with your feet at nearly 45 degrees to your target line.
This will alow you to look up at the target without turning your head much.
Put your puter in place and make your stroke..

It worked for me ,maybe it will work for you.
Give it a go the next time you play.
If your putting is worse ,don't do it again.

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I thought sidesaddle was illegal...? Maybe I'm wrong. I know it was at one point or another (Sam Snead I believe was the reason for the ban).

It's legal. Mr Snead tried croquet-style putting, to deal with a case of the yips. The USGA promptly ruled that both feet had to be on the same side of the target line, so that was illegal. Therefore, Mr Snead stepped back over the line but continued to face the target, putting sidesaddle, and continued to do so, legally.

For me, the feeling is so much less tension in my body than with the conventional pendulum putting stroke. The feeling is exactly like rolling the ball along the ground with my hand, and the putter just feels like an extension of my right arm.

It's also a bit like sweeping the ball toward the cup with a broom. I'd tried it with a conventional short putter but the posture was way too awkward. With the long putter I can just stand normally in a balanced manner.

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Todd
Philadelphia, PA
USA

The reason the pro tells you to keep your head down is so you can't see him laughing. ~Phyllis Diller

Side saddle putting has been baned by the USGA

Side Saddle putting has been banned by the USGA. As for your target line looking far left, it is because you are standing too close to the ball. Make sure that your eyes are directly over the ball, or slightly inside. Take a golf ball hold under your eye, and drop it, the ball should hit the ball that you are setup to. If it goes over , you know that you are standing too close to the ball.

I am under the impression that as long as both feet remain fully on the same side of the target line, it's legal. Sidesaddle putting is nothing more than a combination of (a) "claw" grip, (b) long-shafted putter, and (c) very open stance, all of which are legal.

Jordy, I thought that side saddle was OK, but croquet style (straddling the line) wasn't.

Instead of experimenting with what may (or may not) be illegal methods and oversize putters why not just aim at where you know the line to be rather than letting instinct take over Seems simpler to me!

Joking apart the whole bit about reading the line in the "game within a game" is interesting. I'd bet that 95% of golfers habitually under estimate break and borrow.

On long putts I've tried to discipline myself to aim a little outside my perceived line - which seems to suit me as I tend to try and let my putts "die" into the hole; now I've got the line sorted all I'm worried about is the pace but thats a different - and more important ? - story

That's what I think. Here's the text of the rule: "The player must not make a stroke on the putting green from a stance astride, or with either foot touching, the line of putt or an extension of that line behind the ball."

The hammy promotes an "almost side-saddle" putting style. It is used by Natalie Gulbis among others (Rich Beem?).

Side-saddle is legal, crouqet is not.